Dreaming about green, growing things . . .

“The schoolmaster’s bride always had cowhawks round her flower beds,” said Captain Jim. “She was a master hand with flowers. She LOOKED at ‘em—and touched ‘em—SO—and they grew like mad. Some folks have that knack—I reckon you have it, too, Mistress Blythe.”

“Oh, I don’t know—but I love my garden, and I love working in it. To potter with green, growing things, watching each day to see the dear, new sprouts come up, is like taking a hand in creation, I think. Just now my garden is like faith—the substance of things hoped for. But bide a wee…”

Violet, that’s good to know. Thanks! I was wondering if they were annuals or perennials.Roberta, we have some lovely day-lilies growing around here. I have a couple of varieties but my neighbour who has an extraordinary green thumb has a lot. They are lovely! I’ve never had much luck keeping roses from year to year – they look lovely the first year and then die over the winter. But there are many rose growers here on the Island. I guess I don’t have the knack. I’m going to try some cone flowers in my perennial garden – they give colour in August. Most of my perennials bloom in the early summer – I need to find some that will carry my garden through the late summer and fall. Any suggestions?

Love-in-a-mist is very pretty.We are in a more desert-like climate as well. My husband is growing grapes beautifully, in fact his starts in the basement began budding early, it was such a mild winter, and I have vines growing all over the kitchen nook, waiting for the last frost to pass to be planted outdoors.I am dreaming of Roses, Daylilies, and lavender…those would be good for our climate, and I could dry the lavender and roses. I am a gardener in training yet.

Islandsparrow, I’ve grown Love-in-a-mist for years and had no problems. The flowers last for just a few days. Then they form seed pods which are often used in dried arrangements. If you don’t harvest the pods, they will spread seed in your plot and will grow for you year after year – though they are annuals. You can also harvest the seeds yourself. You’ll never have to buy seeds again, I shouldn’t think.

Deb, you’ll have to post some pictures of love in a mist – and i will too. I hope they can be grown here. I’m not sure of their zone.Jodi and Ellen I don’t have a green thumb either. I’m a better dream gardener than real-life gardener – but I always am hopeful that this year will be the best ever!Candy – we don’t have a shortage of water here – it’s much like Ireland – very green. Our main work is pulling the weeds that love to grow as much as the veges and flowers.Lorna my husband loves to work in the vegetable garden and he’s also a preacher – i think he gets a lot of his sermon ideas as he works out there.Oh yes Donna the first red tomato is so delicious- but I’m not in a rush – we don’t get them until Sept and that means summer is almost over.

I dream of a large garden (which I’ve got by town standards anyway) but with a large gardener to go with itThis post reminded me of a sermon I heard a long time ago – where we were reminded that God is the Gardener – and we were encouraged to look into our hearts to see what was there. The beauty and yes the untended parts which still needed work. It was a marvellous thing to do – and imagine – years on I still get something from it. That’s preaching 🙂

Beautiful. My best friend in Seattle has an old fashioned cottage garden very similar to the picture above. My dream is being back in the Seattle area and enjoying her in her garden! I also do not have a green thumb, but I sure apprciate others people’s ability in this area.Ellen B.

I have dreams of growing something, ANYTHING, that doesn’t die. You see, I have no green thumb.And I laughed out loud at the thought of Rinda in her living room eating breakfast in a kayak! I’d love to see a picture of that.

I loved this post because I love gardening, white fences, and beautiful flowers. The love-in-a-mist plant is new to me as of last year when a blogger in England was offering some of her seeds. I have them ready to plant this year and can’t wait to have them look just like the ones in your picture! 🙂

Islandsparrow, I’ve grown Love-in-a-mist for years and had no problems. The flowers last for just a few days. Then they form seed pods which are often used in dried arrangements. If you don’t harvest the pods, they will spread seed in your plot and will grow for you year after year – though they are annuals. You can also harvest the seeds yourself. You’ll never have to buy seeds again, I shouldn’t think.